Article – Central QLD to host Abbott's northern Australia inquiry

27 March 2014
Gladstone Observer
CENTRAL Queensland will play host to the Abbott government’s northern Australia inquiry next week, as the parliamentary committee leaves on a six-week hearing tour.
The committee, led by Queensland Government MP Warren Entsch, will head to Mackay for a series of meetings on its first hearings day on Monday.
Among those expected to appear were the Mackay Chamber of Commerce, AgForce, North Queensland Bulk Ports, Mackay Tourism and local canegrowers.
The inquiry will also head to Bowen, Ayr, Mount Isa and Townsville in its first week, before heading to other states and returning to north Queensland later in the month.
Mr Entsch said the tour was an important part of the inquiry’s work, and would include visits to “existing and potential projects” and meetings with key locals and organisations.
“Northern Australia has great potential to boost Australia’s economic development and significantly contribute to our exports,” he said.
“The committee will be seeking to identify ways to unlock this potential as well as identifying key projects of merit.”
The inquiry will seek evidence from more than 35 organisations across Queensland, the Northern Territory and West Australia in its mission to develop a policy for the north.
Courtesy of the Gladstone Observer